It’s getting weird. Honestly, if you told a casual MLS fan five years ago that the most intense, high-level tactical chess match in North American soccer would involve a team from Ohio and a glitzy club from LA, they’d have laughed. But here we are. The Columbus Crew vs Los Angeles FC matchup has turned into the gold standard for what the league can actually be when the training wheels come off.
Forget the historical "Clasicos" for a second.
When these two step on the pitch, it isn't just about three points. It’s a clash of ideologies. You have Wilfried Nancy’s "principled" possession—which is basically a high-wire act where center-backs play like midfielders—going up against the ruthless, vertical efficiency of Steve Cherundolo’s LAFC. It’s beautiful. It’s also occasionally chaotic.
The Night Everything Changed in Ohio
You can't talk about Columbus Crew vs Los Angeles FC without going back to December 9, 2023. Lower.com Field was freezing. Rain was everywhere. People expected LAFC, the defending champs at the time, to just flex their muscle and walk away with a repeat.
They didn't.
Columbus didn't just win; they dictated. Cucho Hernández and Yaw Yeboah scored in a whirlwind first half that left LAFC looking human. That 2-1 victory for the Crew wasn't a fluke. It was a statement. It proved that a "small market" team could out-think and out-play the biggest stars in the league. Since that final, every time these two meet, there’s this palpable tension. It feels like LAFC is constantly trying to reclaim a throne that Columbus unceremoniously shoved them off of.
Why the Tactics Actually Matter
Most people look at the rosters and see names like Olivier Giroud or Cucho Hernández. Sure, stars sell tickets. But the real reason Columbus Crew vs Los Angeles FC is a must-watch is the tactical setup.
Nancy’s system in Columbus is risky. Like, heart-attack risky. They invite pressure. They want you to press them so they can pass through you. It’s incredibly brave soccer. On the flip side, LAFC is built to punish exactly that kind of bravery. They are arguably the best transitional team in the history of the league. If Columbus misses a single pass in the buildup, Denis Bouanga is gone. He’s a blur. He doesn't miss those chances.
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So, you get this game of chicken.
Does Columbus stop being themselves to stay safe? No.
Does LAFC sit back and wait for the mistake? Usually.
The 2024 Leagues Cup Final was another perfect example of this. Columbus won that one too, 3-1. It cemented the idea that the Crew might just be LAFC’s kryptonite. Watching Mateusz Bogusz try to find pockets of space while Darlington Nagbe—who is essentially a human vacuum cleaner for the ball—refuses to let him have it is a masterclass in modern midfield play.
The Cucho Factor
Cucho Hernández is the engine. He’s not just a striker. He’s a playmaker, a defensive nuisance, and a psychological weapon. In matches against LAFC, he seems to find an extra gear. It’s almost like he enjoys the spotlight of playing against the "glamour" club.
Breaking Down the Roster Philosophies
The way these two teams are built tells you everything about the current state of MLS.
LAFC goes for the knockout punch. They bring in Giroud—a literal World Cup winner—to provide a focal point. They spend big. They want the Hollywood ending. It’s effective, too. They’ve made more finals in a short span than almost any expansion team in history. Their depth is staggering. You look at their bench and see players who would be nailed-on starters for 20 other teams in this league.
Columbus is different.
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It’s more about the "collective." Don’t get me wrong, they spend money. But they spend it on specific profiles that fit Nancy’s very weird, very specific system. They took Steven Moreira, a guy who was a traditional right-back, and turned him into one of the most creative center-backs in the Western Hemisphere. It shouldn't work. On paper, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. In reality, it’s the reason they win trophies.
What the Critics Miss About This Matchup
A lot of people think LAFC is "too soft" for the gritty style Columbus can play. That’s a lazy take. LAFC is incredibly physical. Ilie Sánchez is one of the smartest, toughest holding midfielders in the game. The real issue for LAFC when they face Columbus isn't toughness; it’s distance.
Columbus makes the field huge.
By stretching the play and keeping the ball, they tire out the LAFC press. By the 70th minute, those lung-bursting runs from the LA wingers start to slow down. That’s when the Crew kills you. It’s death by a thousand passes.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head Realities
If you look at the recent history, the momentum is heavily in favor of the Black & Gold from Ohio. Since 2023, Columbus has had the upper hand in the games that actually matter. The 2023 MLS Cup and the 2024 Leagues Cup Final are massive hurdles that LAFC hasn't quite cleared yet.
But don't count out the Angelenos.
Every time they lose to Columbus, Cherundolo tweaks something. In their most recent regular-season meetings, LAFC has looked much more comfortable playing without the ball, accepting that they won't have 60% possession and focusing on being lethal in the five seconds after they win it back.
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The Atmospheric Edge
Playing in Columbus is a nightmare for West Coast teams. The crowd at Lower.com Field is right on top of the pitch. It’s loud, it’s hostile, and the "Nordecke" supporters' section is a wall of yellow that doesn't stop moving.
LAFC has BMO Stadium, which is arguably the best atmosphere in the league, but they’ve had to travel to Columbus for the biggest games. That travel matters. Flying across the country to play a team that makes you run 12 kilometers just to see the ball is an exhausting prospect.
Key Matchups to Watch
When these two sides meet, the game is usually decided in three specific spots:
- Darlington Nagbe vs Ilie Sánchez: The battle of the "6s." Whoever controls the tempo wins. Nagbe is famously press-resistant. If Ilie can actually harass him into a turnover, LAFC wins. If Nagbe does his usual thing and escapes, Columbus dominates.
- Denis Bouanga vs Steven Moreira: This is pure speed vs pure positioning. Moreira has to be perfect. If he steps up too high to join the attack, Bouanga will exploit that space behind him.
- The Giroud Presence: How does the Columbus back three handle a traditional target man? They are used to playing against mobile forwards. Giroud provides a physical challenge that might force Columbus to play a bit more "boring" than they like.
Moving Beyond the "Inter Miami" Hype
Everyone wants to talk about Messi and Miami. And look, I get it. But if you want to see the highest level of team soccer in the United States, you watch Columbus Crew vs Los Angeles FC. This is where the tactical innovations are happening. This is where the league's future is being written.
It’s a rivalry built on mutual respect and genuine sporting excellence. No manufactured drama. Just two teams that are significantly better than everyone else trying to prove who is the true king of the hill.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re heading to a game or just watching from home, keep these things in mind to actually understand what’s happening on the screen:
- Watch the Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte (Columbus) and Hugo Lloris (LAFC) play the position entirely differently. Schulte is basically an 11th outfield player. Lloris is a traditional shot-stopper. The way their teammates use them tells you who is in control of the match.
- Track the Fullbacks: In this specific matchup, the wide players aren't just there to cross. They are often the ones cutting inside to create overloads in the middle.
- The "30-Minute Rule": If LAFC hasn't scored on a counter-attack in the first 30 minutes, the odds shift dramatically toward Columbus. The longer the game stays 0-0, the more the Crew's possession wears down the LAFC defense.
- Set Piece Vulnerability: Despite their tactical brilliance, Columbus can sometimes be vulnerable on simple corner kicks because of their height disadvantage. LAFC knows this and will hunt for set-piece opportunities.
The next time Columbus Crew vs Los Angeles FC appears on the schedule, clear your evening. It is the closest thing MLS has to a Champions League knockout match. It's fast, it's intense, and honestly, it’s just better soccer than what you'll see anywhere else in the region.
Keep an eye on the injury reports leading up to matchday, especially regarding the midfield anchors. A missing Nagbe or a sidelined Ilie changes the entire geometry of the game. For the most part, though, you can expect fireworks. This isn't a matchup that ends in a boring 0-0 draw very often. Both teams have too much pride and too much attacking talent for that.
Go watch the highlights of the 2023 Cup final again. Watch the way Columbus moves the ball. Then watch Bouanga’s goals from the 2024 season. Put those two things together in your head, and you'll realize why this is the premier fixture in American soccer right now. No question about it.